2 dead, 22 injured in shooting at Houston-area house party

HOUSTON — Two people were killed and at least 22 more were injured when gunfire erupted at a large house party outside the city late Saturday.

Sheriff’s investigators were seeking two suspects early Sunday in connection with the shooting. Harris County Sheriff’s officials said they planned to release additional information at the scene in the 7300 block of Enchanted Creek Drive in Cypress, about 30 miles northwest of Houston.

More than 100 people, mostly young adults, were at the party when the shooting began, officials said. Many fled the home in a panicked rush to escape, they said.

Injuries ranged from critical to minor. Five area hospitals received the injured, some of whom were transported by emergency vehicles and others in their own vehicles.

One person died at the scene, another at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital.

Officials did not identify the victims.

Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman with the sheriff's office, told the Houston Chronicle that some of the wounded suffered shots to the foot, ankle and hip. He told the paper that others fleeing the home had injuries such as twisted ankles.

“It was a pretty chaotic scene,” Gilliland told the Chronicle, adding that deputies arriving at the scene saw some people lying on the ground and others running.

The newspaper quoted witnesses as saying some people banged on doors for help afterward, urging neighbors to call 911 amid scenes of crying and screaming.

It was not clear how many shots were fired or what the motive was for the shooting.